Saturday, September 15, 2007 Solis vs. Batawang fight 2 nights before Manny’s
IT’S final.
The IBF light flyweight mandatory title defense of Mexican Ulises Solis against Filipino Bert Batawang is on the Top Rank Inc. promotions on Oct. 4 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Resort Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in the US.
Top Rank has announced yesterday the sixth title defense of Solis and his second against a Filipino fighter as mandatory title defense by International Boxing Federation (IBF) championship committee chairman Lindsay Tucker Jr. last week.
The card will come two nights before the much awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Antonio Barrera at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Resort Casino.
“That’s what they (promoters) usually do. Every big promotions, like that of the Pacquiao vs. Morales 3 and the De La Hoya vs. Mayweather fights, there were smaller promotions held days before the event,” said Batawang’s manager Sammy Gello-ani in an earlier interview.
The fight, which was originally set last Sept. 6, was cancelled after Solis reportedly hurt his shoulders during training.
Fight team
Batawang arrived in the US last June 26, together with six other Filipino fighters seeking their places in the Boxing World Cup in Sacramento, California.
But after his fight with Gerardo Verde for an IBF title eliminator bout was cancelled days before the fight, Batawang got a new lease in life when he was booked to fight Solis for the world title.
By now, Batawang must be in tip-top shape as he continued his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California amid the waiting game.
Batawang shot up to the No.8 position in the ratings from No. 12 and was declared a mandatory challenger by the IBF Championship Committee after Verde failed to make the fight last Aug. 11.
However, Batawang’s handler, especially international matchmaker Sampson Lewko-wicz, a known ally of the ALA Gym and Gello-ani, had to pull some strings to make sure the title challenge will be given to the Filipino fighter.
Solis was able to make a successful defense against Filipino contender Rodel Mayol last August via eight-round TKO but beating the veteran Batawang is not an easy task for the youthful Mexican.
Solis, 26, is holding a 25-1-2, 19 KOs ring record while Batawang, 35, carries a decent 50-6, 34KOs slate. (RCM)
